MWAMHR |CHAPTER 41

Chapter 41

Since Sailport had no train station, they had to disembark at Norfen, an eastern city, and travel for another half a day.

He had worried because there weren’t many trains bound for Norfen, but by chance, one was scheduled to depart in two hours.

It was an ordinary train with only cargo compartments and standard seating, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.

Howard, relieved that he could at least get to Norfen, lit another cigar. It was already his fourth, but the restless waiting made it impossible to stop. The acrid smoke and heavy scent clung to him, thick and suffocating, like the worries crowding his mind.

He ground the dying cigar into the ashtray and reached for a fresh one—when someone familiar stepped down from a carriage.

“Elisa Leslie?”

And she wasn’t alone.

The boy’s name was… Noah, wasn’t it?

She gripped the child’s hand tightly, glancing around with nervous eyes.

She looked so frail, as if a light touch would send her toppling over.

“Miss Leslie.”

She wasn’t a stranger, and perhaps because of the incident earlier that morning at the counseling office, Howard called out to her.

Elisa startled, as though caught stealing, and turned back sharply.

“Your Highness…”

When she saw it was Howard, her eyes filled with hope and relief.

The child, however, shrank back in fear, clutching his mother’s skirt.

“So we meet again. What brings you here? Are you here to see Count Leslie?”

The last time they had spoken, Elisa had stormed out, determined to confront her father at once.

She had been so frantic that it was a wonder she even remembered to take her son with her.

So naturally, seeing her at the station, Howard assumed she was on her way to the Count.

“No. I’ve already met with Father.”

“Then why are you here…? Ah—don’t tell me you’ve heard about Ethan?”

He asked half in dread, and Elisa, her face drained of color, gave a small nod.

“Tch.”

Howard let out a dry laugh, rubbing the back of his aching neck.

Ethan’s disappearance had spread only in Sailport.

The capital, far away, had yet to hear a word.

For Elisa to know… it didn’t make sense.

“Who told you? Was it Derek Grenville? Is he digging into Ethan’s business again?”

The thought of that persistent man shadowing Ethan’s steps made Howard’s voice harden.

“N-no. It was Sir Dudley who told me.”

Caught off guard, Elisa blinked rapidly, stammering her reply.

Sir Dudley—Colin Dudley, the Count’s secretary.

He would never have acted alone. That meant Count Leslie himself had ordered it.

Which meant, in turn, the Count had been following Ethan’s trail.

So, you’ve got eyes everywhere, just like me.

Howard clicked his tongue, feeling an odd, unwanted sense of kinship with Ethan.

“You can find him, right?”

Elisa’s voice trembled with fear and desperation as she clutched Howard’s arm.

“You’ll find Ethan, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

Howard grasped her quivering hand, steadying it.

“The search party is already doing everything to locate him. Don’t worry too much. I’ll join them myself.”

Just then, his aide stepped closer and murmured, “The train will be here shortly, Your Highness.”

Howard nodded and patted Elisa’s shoulder.

“As soon as we find him, you’ll be the first to know. For now, excuse me.”

“You’re going to Sailport, aren’t you? Please—take me with you!”

Elisa grabbed his arm in panic, her voice rising.

“I want to search for Ethan too! That’s why I came here!”

“With the boy as well?”

Howard glanced at Noah, peeking out timidly from behind his mother.

Elisa flinched and pulled him closer, gripping his small hand tightly.

“I didn’t want to bring him… but Father gave me no choice.”

When Elisa had declared her intent to find Ethan herself, Count Leslie had flown into a rage.

Derek Grenville, too, had tried to dissuade her.

But she would not bend.

The Count had finally threatened: “Either that bastard or Noah—choose!”

“Why should I choose? I’ll take Noah with me!”

The Count had raged like a madman, but Elisa ignored him and left with her son.

She had managed to reach the station by carriage, but truthfully, she was at a loss.

She had only heard of Sailport—never been there, didn’t even know the way.

So when she stumbled upon Howard, it felt like a blessing.

Like stumbling through pitch-black night and suddenly finding a ray of light.

“I don’t think you understand how far Sailport is. For a child Noah’s age, it’s impossible.”

The realization struck her pale—she had been so consumed by the thought of Ethan that she had overlooked something so obvious.

“Besides, I’ll be riding on horseback from Norfen to Sailport. Could you keep up?”

Elisa shook her head. She knew how to ride, but leisurely strolls were one thing—racing over mountain trails was beyond her.

Her body simply wouldn’t endure it.

I really had no plan at all.

At last realizing her folly, Elisa bit her lip so hard it drew blood.

Howard was right. To go to Sailport would be reckless. She would be a burden, nothing more.

And yet, she couldn’t give up.

Ethan was missing—vanished after plunging into the sea from a sheer cliff.

How could she possibly sit idle and wait? If she did nothing, she felt she would lose her mind.

“I understand your worry, but truly, it would be better if you remained in the capital.”

Howard sealed her hesitation with firm words.

He was about to turn away when Noah suddenly clutched his leg.

“What’s this?”

Howard looked down.

The boy, mute, only gazed up at him with pleading eyes.

“Don’t tell me… you want to come too?”

Noah nodded.

“That’s not possible. It’s far too dangerous for a little—wait, are you crying?”

Large tears spilled down Noah’s cheeks.

Howard, flustered, hastily wiped them away.

“Don’t cry. There, there, shhh.”

“Noah, please don’t. It’s all right, darling.” Elisa tried soothing him too, but the child wouldn’t stop. All the while, he clung stubbornly to Howard’s leg, refusing to let go.

It would have been easy to pry off such tiny hands that barely reached his waist.

But Howard didn’t dare.

He remembered how the boy had wailed in the alley that morning. The thought of a repeat unnerved him.

And besides… those small, desperate hands clutching him as if he were the last hope in the world—he couldn’t bring himself to push them away.

“Your Highness, the train is approaching the platform.”

With a groan, Howard ran his hands through his hair.

If he couldn’t tear the boy away, there was only one solution.

“You want to come to Sailport that badly? Fine. I’ll take you.”

At once, Noah’s tears vanished.

He wiped the dampness on Howard’s trousers and looked up with innocent eyes, as though nothing had happened.

Hah. Look at this brat.

Howard’s gaze narrowed at the cunning little act.

“You mean it? You’ll really take us?” Elisa asked timidly.

Howard shrugged.

“We’ll ride together as far as Norfen. Once we arrive, I’ll head straight for Sailport on horseback. You and the boy should rest there, and later follow by carriage. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes!”

Elisa nodded eagerly.

To be taken along at all was more than she had hoped for.

At last, Noah released Howard’s leg and nestled calmly back into his mother’s arms.

Like father, like son, Howard thought with a wry laugh, shaking his head.